Tag: Champions Trophy

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has opened up the decision to promote star batter Babar Azam to play as an opener ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Babar, who has been Pakistan’s mainstay at the number three position, was promoted to open the innings with Fakhar Zaman in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

However, his performance in this new role has been disappointing, as he returned with scores of 10, 23, and 29, sparking discussions about the decision to move him to the opening spot.

Mohammad Amir, during a recent interview, expressed his disappointment with the decision, highlighting Babar’s ability to build the innings from the number three position.

“As I’ve said before, if I don’t get to bowl with the new ball, I can’t fully utilize my strength,” Amir stated.

“Similarly, Babar’s strength is at No. 3, where he knows how to construct an innings. The role of an opener in ODIs and Tests is completely different from T20s.”

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The left-arm pacer further acknowledged the importance of clearly defined batting roles in the longer formats, explaining how the mindset and approach differ between formats.

“An opener has to adapt in phases. In the first 10 overs, you need to take chances. The next 10 overs are about building a partnership,” he said.

“Babar is a top player, no doubt, but I believe No. 3 is where he belongs. When you’re struggling, you try different things, but sometimes it’s best to stick to what works.”

Previously, former cricketers Mohammad Hafeez and Basit Ali have also echoed similar sentiments, raising questions about changing Babar Azam’s batting position.

For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19, followed by the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

READ: Former cricketer slams decision to play Babar Azam as opener

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has slammed the decision to promote star batter Babar Azam to play as an opener ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

His comments came in the wake of Pakistan’s thumping five-wicket loss in the tri-nation ODI series final against New Zealand at the newly renovated National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday.

Basit Ali, while speaking on his YouTube channel, stated that winning the tri-nation would have boosted the confidence of the squad going into the mega-event.

“If Pakistan had won the tri-nation series, the confidence level of every player would have been high,” he said.

“Winning this tri-nation series could have boosted morale. Now, what will be your confidence level? Cricket is a game of confidence, and if that is shaken, you are left behind.”

The former batter then criticised the decision to open the innings with Babar, despite the right-hander’s exceptional record at number three.

“Who advised Babar Azam to open the innings? I am surprised by this decision,” Basit questioned.

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“What kind of thinking is this? He was performing well at number three, scoring 50-70 runs against South Africa, but they changed his position.

“Now, just 62 runs in three matches in the tri-series. This is the approach and mindset of the management.”

Basit Ali also opened up on the comparison of Babar Azam with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.

“They say even Sachin opened the innings and scored a century in his first match in Sri Lanka. But you removed Babar from No. 3, where he was excelling, and now you’ve destroyed his rhythm,” he said.

For the unversed, Babar’s performance in this new role has been underwhelming, with low scores of 10, 23 and 29 in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

The defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19, followed by the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

READ: ‘Mind-boggling decision,’ Pakistan cricketer questions Faheem’s selection over Hasnain

Mohammad Hafeez, the former Pakistan cricket captain, has stated his opinion regarding the batting position of Babar Azam for the forth-coming Champions Trophy 2025.

Hafeez believes that Babar should return to his usual No. 3 spot in the batting order in the upcoming tournament.

This suggestion comes after Babar was recently moved to open the innings in the tri-nation series due to an injury to Saim Ayub.

However, his performance in this new role has been underwhelming, with low scores of  10, 23 and 29 in the recently concluded tri-series matches.

For the unversed, Babar has been the mainstay for Pakistan for several years in the ODI format, scoring the bulk of runs.

However, his last One Day International century came against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup. It is pertinent to note here that the star batter opened the batting last in 2015, the same year he made his ODI debut.

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In his two outings as an opener that year, he scored 4 and 22 runs, respectively.

Babar Azam primarily plays at No. 3, a batting position where he has amassed 5,957 runs in 123 ODIs at an average of 56, with 19 centuries and 23 fifties.

Mohammad Hafeez feels that Pakistan has other capable openers who could partner with Fakhar Zaman in the Champions Trophy.

In a post on X, Hafeez suggested either of Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq or Abdullah Shafique to open the inning with Fakhar Zaman in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Hafeez emphasized that moving Azam back to No. 3 would “make things easier for everyone” and optimize the team’s batting lineup for the crucial tournament.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Usman Khan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

READ: ‘A big innings is coming’ Aqib Javed backs Babar Azam ahead of Champions Trophy

KARACHI: Pakistan’s interim head coach has backed star batter Babar Azam as an opener on Friday, despite his rough patch ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting next week.

Aqib, in a post-match press conference after New Zealand defeated Pakistan in the tri-nation series final, addressed the concerns regarding Babar’s elevation as an opener.

It is pertinent to mention here that Babar has been the mainstay for Pakistan for several years in the ODI format, scoring the bulk of runs.

His last One Day International century came against Nepal in the 2023 Asia Cup, while he has struggled in the recently concluded tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand.

The head coach was confident that the right-handed batter was due for a big innings, especially in an important match for us.

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“Babar has gotten good starts, but he needs to go deeper. He has an important innings due and I expect him to score in an important match for us,” said Aqib.

Aqib Javed also explained the rationale behind Star Batter’s promotion as an opener.

“The idea behind Babar’s promotion as an opener is that if you look at the away series against South Africa, he had to bat in the first over in all games.”

“Then Saim got injured and he had to open in Tests too. These pitches don’t have that kind of bounce and seam movement that could trouble the batters at the start. We wanted our best batter to make good use of the powerplay, that suits us more,” explained Aqib.

Aqib Javed described this squad as the best they have and expressed confidence in winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

“These bunch of players can do well in the upcoming tournament. You can score 350 if this team bats normally and goes down to number eight,” he said.

He further stated that this team has the capability to defeat any opposition.

“This lineup has everything it needs to beat any team,” remarked Pakistan’s head coach.

READ: Pakistan Shaheens thrash Afghanistan in Champions Trophy warm-up

LAHORE: Pakistan Shaheens defeated Afghanistan by 144 runs in the first warm-up match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Batting first, Shaheens posted a massive total of 314-8 in their 50 overs. The home team’s Hussain Talat, Muhammad Irfan Khan, and Mohsin Riaz belted half-centuries, while all-rounder Jahandad Khan’s late blitz powered the team to reach a formidable total.

Talat was the top-scorer with 70 off 75 balls, laced with seven elegant fours, while Riaz and Irfan chipped in 61 and 57, respectively.

For Afghanistan, Fareed Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers, who took 3 for 56 in eight overs. Noor Ahmad also chipped in with two wickets in his allocated ten overs.

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Chasing a daunting total, the Afghanistan team’s premier batting line faltered against Shaheen’s, scoring 170 runs in 38.4 overs.

Rahmat Shah remained the top scorer for the visitors with his 43 runs, while no other batter from Afghanistan’s experienced line-up rose to the occasion.

Pakistan Shaheen’s captain, Shadab Khan, led from the front and took three for 29 in his eight overs.

Afghanistan will play their second warm-up match against New Zealand on February 16 before starting their Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa next week.

On the other hand, Pakistan Shaheens will face South Africa at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on February 17, while their other squad will be in action on the same day against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

For the unversed, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named the three Shaheens squads that will feature in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 warm-up matches in the build-up to the main event, which will take place from 19 February to 9 March.

Schedule of matches featuring Pakistan Shaheens:

14 February – vs Afghanistan, Gaddafi Stadium (1400-2130)

17 February – vs South Africa, National Stadium Karachi (1400-2130)

17 February – vs Bangladesh, ICC Cricket Academy (1400-2130)

Other Champions Trophy warm-up matches:

16 February – New Zealand v Afghanistan, National Stadium Karachi (1400-2130)

READ: Clinical New Zealand seal tri-nation series final in dominant fashion

New Zealand suffered a major blow ahead of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as key fast bowler Ben Sears was ruled out of the marquee tournament with a hamstring injury.

The right-arm fast bowler, part of New Zealand’s tri-series squad, felt pain in his hamstring during the team’s training session in Karachi on Wednesday.

According to New Zealand Cricket (NZC), a scan revealed a minor tear that would require two weeks of rehabilitation following the injury.

Keeping the tournament schedule in focus, New Zealand Cricket named a replacement, as Sears would have been only available from the BlackCaps’ final group match onwards against India on 2 March.

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Jacob Duffy was named Ben Sears’s replacement for the Champions Trophy 2025. Duffy is already part of the ongoing tri-nation series against Pakistan and South Africa.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead was disappointed after Ben Sears was ruled out of a highly-anticipated event.

“We’re all really feeling for Ben. It’s always tough being ruled out of a significant event at such a late stage, and it’s especially tough in Ben’s case, given it would have been his first major ICC event,” said Stead.

He further stated that considering the short nature of the tournament and Ben Sear’s fitness timeline, it was appropriate to bring in a replacement.

“The timeframes for Ben to be fit to play again meant he would likely miss the majority of the group stage, and given the short nature of the tournament, we felt it was appropriate to bring in a player who is fully fit and ready to go,” said New Zealand head coach.

New Zealand Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mitchell Santner (C), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

READ: Babar Azam achieves major milestone during New Zealand clash

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Friday announced the prize money for the upcoming Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan.

The return of the ICC Champions Trophy for the first time since 2017 will see eight teams compete for the prize money of a whopping $2.24 million (USD).

The runners-up will receive $1.12 million, while each losing semi-finalist will take home $560,000. The total prize pool has increased by an impressive 53 percent from the 2017 edition, reaching $6.9 million.

At the Champions Trophy, every match will matter as each group stage win is worth over $34,000 for the victorious team. Teams finishing in fifth or sixth place will receive $350,000 each, while the seventh and eighth-placed sides will take home $140,000.

Additionally, all eight teams will receive a guaranteed $125,000 each for participating at the event.

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This tournament marks the first time Pakistan will host an ICC event since 1996. The 2025 edition features eight teams split into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy will be held every four years, featuring the world’s top eight ODI teams, while the Women’s Champions Trophy will debut in 2027 in a T20 format.

“The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 represents a pivotal moment for cricket, reviving a tournament that highlights the pinnacle of ODI talent, where every match is critical,” said ICC Chairman Jay Shah.

“The substantial prize pot underscores the ICC’s ongoing commitment to investing in the sport and maintaining the global prestige of our events.”

“Beyond the financial incentive, this tournament ignites fierce competition, captivates fans worldwide, and plays a vital role in fostering the growth and long-term sustainability of cricket for future generations.”

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed recalls advice to players for Champions Trophy 2017 final

Former England batter Kevin Pietersen predicted his semi-finalist teams for the forth-coming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to begin on 19 February in Pakistan.

While sharing his thoughts in a recent interview, the flamboyant batter confidently named arch-rivals India and Pakistan as top contenders for the title.

However, Pietersen surprisingly ruled out England and Australia as the semi-finalists due to their recent form and injury concerns.

“I mean, this is so hard. It really is. But with Mitchell Starc pulling out today, I’m gonna say India, Pakistan, South Africa, and New Zealand,” said Pietersen.

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Kevin Pietersen further backed South Africa and New Zealand as the two other teams to reach the semi-finals of the marquee tournament.

He stated that these teams have the potential to make a deep run in the competition.

For the unversed, Starc withdrew from the tournament, citing personal reasons, which means Australia will be without their famed pace trio in the mega event.

Starc’s compatriots Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have already been ruled out of the Champions Trophy after sustaining injuries.

It’s worth noting that the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.

In Pakistan, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi will be the three venues to host tournament play. Each Pakistan venue will feature three group games apiece, with Lahore hosting the second semi-final.

Lahore will also host the final on 9 March, unless India qualify, in which case it will be played in Dubai. Both the semi-finals and the final will have reserve days.

READ: England batter faces injury scare ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

England batter Ben Duckett faced an injury scare in the third One Day International against India ahead of the highly-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to commence on 19 February in Pakistan.

India hammered England in the third ODI by 142 runs and swept the series 3-0 on Wednesday, courtesy of Shubman Gill’s sparkling century.

The visitors finished the horrible tour with only one victory across three ODIs and five T20 Internationals.

The left-hand batter, who scored 34 off 22 balls in the last match of the disastrous tour for England, limped severely after the first innings. This added to the team’s ongoing injury concerns.

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According to the reports, the 30-year-old opener tweaked his groin toward the end of the Indian innings. Duckett, who scored 65 in the second ODI and showed good form on the tour, has been the mainstay for England in both white-ball and red-ball matches over the two years.

It is also pertinent to mention that England’s team is already facing injury scares as their pace bowlers, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Jamie Overton were sidelined from the match due to niggles in hot conditions, adding to team challenges.

Moreover, England’s emerging all-rounder Jacob Bethell has already been ruled of the ICC Champions Trophy after sustaining a hamstring injury on a recently completed India tour.

Furthermore, their wicket-keeper batter, Jamie Smith has also sustained a calf injury and was unavailable for the ODI series.

For the unversed, England will kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Australia in Lahore on February 22 before playing Afghanistan at the same venue four days later.

They will then face South Africa in Karachi on March 1.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February, with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.

England’s updated Champions Trophy squad:

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood

READ: Pakistan trio fined for breaching ICC Code of Conduct in South Africa clash

Former Indian wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel has backed the Afghanistan cricket team to surprise the world during the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to commence on 19 February in Pakistan.

Patel, during a media interaction, stated that Afghanistan could be the dark horse of the mega event while predicting the final four teams.

“There’ll be India, Pakistan, South Africa, and Australia just given the record in the ICC trophies,” said Patel.

“But my dark horse is Afghanistan. They’ve got they’ve played really good cricket in the 50-over format.

“It was just that Glenn Maxwell’s innings otherwise I think they were right there in the race to reach the semifinals [of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023]. So you know Afghanistan could come in and surprise all other teams.”

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It’s worth noting that the ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

Afghanistan will kick off their campaign with a clash against South Africa at Karachi’s newly renovated National Bank Stadium on February 21, before they face England and Australia at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

For the unversed, Afghanistan’s performance in white-ball cricket has been strong recently — finishing sixth in the ICC ODI World Cup in 2023 and reaching the semi-final in last year’s T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan beat England and Pakistan in the ODI World Cup and Australia and New Zealand in the T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharote, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.

READ: Babar Azam eyes major milestone in tri-nation series final against New Zealand